Charles was raised with his two brothers by his mother after his father, Pvt. Eleazer Allen, died in 1863 during the Civil War. Charles became a well known and long time Steam Locomotive Engineer for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Rail Road.

Charles was a Civil War Veteran. He enlisted at Clymer NY on 31 December 1863 at age 19 to serve 3 years. He mustered in as private, Co. K, 2nd New York Mounted Rifles on 6 February 1864. He transferred to Co. C on 1 April 1864. He mustered out with the company on 10 August 1865 at Petersburg, VA.

History of the 2nd Mounted Rifles Regiment (Governor's Guard) in the Civil War.

(The following is paraphrased from New York in the War of the Rebellion, 3rd ed. Frederick Phisterer. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company, 1912.)

July 2, 1863, Col. John Fisk received authority to recruit a regiment of infantry; August 24, 1863, this authority was modified, changing the organization to be recruited a regiment of mounted rifles. It was organized at Lockport and Buffalo, and the companies were mustered in the service of the United States for three years: at Lockport A and I October 31 and November 2, 1863, respectively; at Fort Porter, Buffalo, B, C, D, E and L January 12th, 26th, 27th, 29th and 25th, respectively; F and G February 5, and H, K and M February 4, 6 and 13, 1864, respectively.

The regiment left the State in March, 1864, and served as infantry at and near Washington, D. C., in 22d Corps; in the Provisional Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Corps, from May 15, 1864; in 1st Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Corps, Army of Potomac, from June 11, 1864; in the 2d Brigade, 2d Division, 9th Corps, from September, 1864; mounted in the 3d Brigade, 2d Division, Cavalry, Army of Potomac, from November 16, 1864; in Department of Virginia, from May, 1865.

Commanded by Lt. Col. Joseph H. Wood, the regiment was honorably discharged and mustered out, August 10, 1865, at Petersburg, Va., having during its service lost by death, killed in action, 7 officers, 67 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 2 officers, 29 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 1 officer, 112 enlisted men; total, 10 officers, 208 enlisted men; aggregate, 218; of whom 20 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.